It was great seeing you all and celebrating the work your child has put into their first trimester of 8th grade! I look forward to seeing their continued progress as the year goes on!
In addition, it's almost that time of year again: Holidays Around the World! We are once again partnered with Mrs. Sanchez's 3rd grade class. But, this year we will be teaching students about Hannukuh. For this, Mrs. Sanchez and I were looking for jelly donuts (sufganiyot) to be donated. CLICK HERE if you are able to drop off some jelly donuts on the morning of Wednesday, December 17th!
Triannual Family Survey:
Our triannual Family Survey, not to be confused with the Strategic Plan Family Survey, is taken three times each school year. CLICK HERE to answer six questions to rate your family's experience at Westlake Charter School during the 2025-26 school year. The deadline is Sunday, November 30th.
Fall Food Drive:
Our Annual Fall Food Drive benefiting Joey’s Food Locker runs now through Wednesday, December 3rd, concluding at our Annual Chili Cook-Off. Food collection bins will be placed in the reception area of each campus. Suggested donations are:
Beans
Rice
Pasta
Broth/stock
Canned Vegetables and Chicken
Cooking Oil
Spices (salt, pepper, garlic powder, etc.)
Thank you for helping us give back to our Natomas community!
Chili Cook-Off:
We are excited for the upcoming, and always popular, Chili Cook-Off on Wednesday, December 3rd from 5:30 – 7:00 PM on our K-8 campus. We invite every family to come sample chili and vote for their favorite! The winning grade level will take the Golden Spoon to display with pride in their classrooms. All of our families can take part in making the Chili Cook-Off a success. See below for details about the event and how to participate
Each grade level, 6th - 12th, decorates one shared booth with several different chilis to sample.
The cost is $5 per person.
Families of four or more are just $20.00.
Each bowl comes with a drink (while supplies last).
Desserts can be purchased for $1.
Kindergarten – 5th Grade: CLICK HERE to sign up to donate desserts, drinks, spoons, and/or napkins.
6th – 12th Grade: CLICK HERE to sign up to supply and/or serve chili, help with booth decorations, or setup/cleanup.
Thanksgiving Break:
Both campuses will be closed for Thanksgiving Break Monday, November 24th through Friday, November 28th. We look forward to welcoming staff and students back on Monday, December 1st. Our BASE program will also be closed during Thanksgiving Break.
2026-27 Lottery Application Window - Open December 1st:
Our 2026-27 lottery opens on December 1st, including our freshman, sophomore, junior and senior classes at Westlake Charter High School! Current students do not need to fill out an application to continue their enrollment at WCS; however, siblings do need to fill out lottery applications to attend. Spread the word and encourage friends and family to visit www.JoinWestlake.com to apply today.
After School Live - Explorer Enrichment Sign-ups:
Our winter Explorer Enrichment programs are starting soon! CLICK HERE to see the catalog of Explorer Enrichment course offerings and information about how to sign up.
Attendance Challenge: HERE for the Hot Cocoa!
Our Here for the Hot Cocoa Attendance Challenge is back! From December 1st - 19th grade levels will be competing to win a hot cocoa celebration. The grade level with the highest attendance percentage from K-5, middle school, and high school will win a hot cocoa celebration! More important than the hot cocoa is knowing that students who don’t show up for school regularly miss out on fundamental reading and math skills and the chance to build a habit of good attendance that will carry them into college and careers.
ELA
- Narrative Writing: Memoirs
- Delineate & Evaluate Arguments
Social Studies
Project Playlist:
Launching the New Republic
- Foundations of Am. Political System
- Ideals & Aspirations
- Foriegn Policy
Read informational articles: Newsela
Reading skills: Lexia
Writing skills: Quill
(These resources will be linked as soon as they are introduced to students.)
Math: Unit 4: Systems of Equations
Science: Teen Talk (12/3)
Math Unit 4 Benchmark: Week of 12/15 (Tentatively)
Science Unit 4 Benchmark: Week of 12/15 (Tentatively)
Khan Academy Unit 2 Extra Practice, Imagine Math Aligned Practice (login with Clever), Additional practice and activities posted in Google Classroom (login with Clever)
Rhythm and Patterns Aerobic Dance
Dance I - Aerobic Dance Pattern with step board
- Practice Video in our Google Classroom
Students will be translating music into vibrant visual compositions. They will begin by picking their favorite songs, then figuring out how to represent its sound and mood with lines, colors, and collage.
Before break, middle school artists drew a racoon with oil pastel and collaged it onto a painted background inspired by Vincent Van Gogh's The Starry Night. Upon returning to school we will continue to focus on collage work.
Unit 3 En la casa Students will work with a partner to complete a conversation about the chores they do in different rooms of the house.
Short Story Students will read a short story related to household chores and demonstrate understanding by responding to comprehension questions.
Duolingo, Blookit, Gimkit, or other language-learning apps.
Unit 3 En la casa Students will work with a partner to complete a conversation about the chores they do in different rooms of the house.
Short Story Students will read a short story related to household chores and demonstrate understanding by responding to comprehension questions.